If there’s anything It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s neverending run has taught us (14 seasons confirmed!), it’s that there’s really no limit to how much fun you can wring out of truly horrible, horrible people. Fox will take that lesson to heart in 2017, importing not only Always Sunny’s aesthetic of endlessly escalating awfulness but one of its most talented actresses, casting Kaitlin “Sweet Dee” Olson in their upcoming show The Mick.
The trailer has the distinction of being the first—and so far only—intentionally funny promo for an upcoming show. Olson plays Mickey, a low-rent con artist who ends up watching the children of her billionaire sister and brother-in-law when they flee the country to avoid prosecution. She reacts to her newfound wealth with the strength of character we all hope we’d have: playing video games in a top hat and tuxedo while smoking a fat cigar. But she’s also stuck with the kids.
Watching an ill-suited parent deal with children is neither a fresh nor inherently funny premise—see how far you can make it through the promo for CBS’ Man With A Plan—but watching an ill-suited parent ruin kids can be hilarious. From drugging the teenager with sleep medication disguised as absinthe to giving the youngest kid advice that leads to getting his face smashed in, Olson seems to be taking things far enough down the road to destruction for this to be fun. And no other actress can sell “I’ve been passed out on the floor in a tattered wedding dress for at least 12 hours and for part of it I wasn’t breathing” the way she can. Provided she’s given enough irresponsible things to do, this could be a really great show.
